REJOICING: (1) WHO AND WHY?

True joy, which is always blended with reverence and godly fear, Psa. 2. 11, is an essential component of scriptural praise. “Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright”, Psa. 33. 1. This implies that the worshipper has personally experienced the goodness of the One whom he adores. Praise is no academic matter. It can neither be taught in a college nor learned by rote. Rather, it is the spontaneous but intelligent response of the heart to God. But what hearts are fit for worship?

Let us observe three characteristics of the people who “exult in the Lord”, v. 1 J.N.D. First, they have been constituted righteous, v. 1. Both Scripture and experience teach us that no man is so by nature, but the divine provision is lucidly expounded in Psalm 32. Happiness and joy mark the man “whose transgression is forgiven”, v. 1. He alone is equipped to “be glad in the Lord, and rejoice”, v. 11, a command which is enacted by Psalm 32 itself as it progresses from “silence”, v. 3, through “songs”, v. 7, to a “shout for joy”, v. 11. Only those who have received His forgiveness can rejoice in the Lord. Second, they are described as those who have “trusted in his holy name”, Psa. 33. 21. That is, they have exercised faith in the living God. Of course, it is through the initial response of faith to God’s Word that we receive a righteous standing before Him, Rom. 5. 1, 2. But faith is the foundation of the entire Christian life, for “the just shall live by his faith”, Hab. 2. 4. Only as we grow in our confidence in God will we acceptably praise Him. Last, those who rejoice in God are those who wait for Him, Psa. 33. 20, and hope in Him, v. 22. They have a glad future, for, whatever happens, they rest secure in the hands of an all-seeing, all-powerful God, vv. 18, 19.

These precious truths are emphasized at the Lord’s Supper where we look back to the crucified Saviour (who purchased our forgiveness), up to the crowned Saviour (in whom rests our faith), and on the coming Saviour (who is our future). Worship there reaches its zenith. Yet our joy in God should scarcely be rationed to one day in the week!

Like Paul, let us “rejoice in the Lord alway”, Phil. 4. 4.